Broadening access to digital skills – the EY Tech MBA

We’ve all had to learn to do more things remotely as a result of the pandemic. It’s been incredible to watch the surge in digital learning, with some UK online learning platforms seeing an eight-fold increase in enrolment through lockdown.

While the long-term effects remain to be seen, this could create a real push that rewards the best of educational technology. Back in 2018, I wrote about the need to make education more fit for the future. As intelligent technologies and data evolve at exponential speeds, businesses need access to lifelong learning that moves at the same speed.

As intelligent technologies and data evolve at exponential speeds, businesses need access to lifelong learning that moves at the same speed.

To this end, we’ve launched an online EY Tech MBA, available to all our people, entirely free of charge. Inevitably, it got me thinking about my own MBA, what I learned from it and how different it will be for my colleagues.

Time to spread your wings

A pivotal moment in my career was a conversation I had with my boss when I was 26. I had joined a large corporate as part of their graduate management scheme. He had great belief in my potential for leadership and advised me to broaden my experience via consulting or working internationally.

It was a discussion that made me really examine my future career. Eventually it led to my decision to do an MBA, to strengthen my knowledge of finance and strategy. This led to a very busy time in my life: juggling a demanding day job, personal commitments, travelling to lectures, and studying at the same time.

I decided to study for an MBA after a frank and constructive conversation with my boss. It took a lot of juggling - the fact it can now be done remotely from anywhere in the world is a real bonus.

Two decades later, it’s great to hear that EY employees – wherever they are – can now study for an EY Tech MBA completely free, at their own pace, with a top provider. In these challenging times, the fact that it’s remote and can be done anywhere in the world is a real bonus. From what I’m hearing, there’s a lot of excitement about it. So how does it work and what could it mean for our people and our clients?

A curriculum that flexes with the market

The EY Tech MBA is offered through Hult International Business School, a triple-accredited, leading business school, and the first degree to be custom-built by an employer. The pick and mix nature of the modules means people can pursue what’s of most interest to them. And the content is updated every four months, so we know it’s current and relevant to what our people and our clients need.

It’s also unique because it’s future focused, with technology topics such as AI, blockchain, robotic process automation, along with topics such as diversity, purpose and inspiration. The curriculum will also flex in line with changes in the market. Each module is a combination of online learning and practical application.

Widening access to training

EY’s approach will widen access to an MBA by removing barriers to completion, which are notably time and cost. When we announced the programme on the first of July, over 6000 people attended the launch call. Those already signed up have explained how the EY Tech MBA will help them to balance their professional and personal ambitions.

EY’s approach will widen access to an MBA by removing barriers to completion, which are notably time and cost

For me, getting an MBA meant getting a respected qualification and building a network I have drawn on throughout my career. The EY Tech MBA gives more EY people the opportunity to do the same.